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Do-it-yourself orthodontic kit and methodRelated Patent Categories: Dentistry, Orthodontics, Method Of Positioning Or Aligning TeethDo-it-yourself orthodontic kit and method description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060105287, Do-it-yourself orthodontic kit and method. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This invention is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 10/987,711, filed Nov. 15, 2004 of the same inventive entity as herein, incorporated herein by reference. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The invention relates to the field of orthodontia, specifically to a do-it-yourself orthodontic kit and method. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] The principles of correcting teeth alignment with pressure are old, mostly involving wire braces worn with incremental adjustment, with a plastic retainer (as described by Bergersen, 1975, U.S. Pat. No. 3,950,851) worn to maintain the final alignment. Tooth positioners for finishing orthodontic treatment are described by Kesling in the Am. J. Orthod. Oral. Surg. 31:297-304 (1945) and 32:285-293 (1946). Subsequent innovations have used some version of a plastic retainer/positioner to effect a change in tooth alignment to a pre-determined position, over time. Andrews describes an improved orthodontic positioner in 1984 U.S. Pat. No. 4,591,341; Martz specifies a device that allows for a patient's ability to insert and remove positioner in 1988, U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,803; Breads describes creating a positioner from a corrected model in 1986, U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,991. The manufacture of orthodontic positioners is also described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,186,623; 5,059,118; 5,055,039; 5,035,613; 4,798,534; 4,755,139; and 6,485,298. [0004] All of the above require a dental professional to devise a treatment plan and create a device(s). The present invention is a tooth straightening means utilizing a simple and economical process of repositioning teeth that does not require assessment, treatment or assistance by a professional such as a dentist. It allows identification and correction of maloccluded teeth by a non-professional, using unsophisticated tools and materials to create a semi-rigid tooth positioner in a non-laboratory environment. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0005] It is one object of the present to disclose a do-it-yourself method of tooth straightening. [0006] It is a related object of the present invention to disclose a do-it-yourself orthodontic kit. [0007] The do-it-yourself method of tooth straightening of the present invention includes the steps of: [0008] creating a negative dental impression of the dental arch, by pouring an alginate and water mixture into a dental tray to form a semisolid matrix and biting into the matrix to create a negative dental impression of the dental arch; [0009] creating a positive model of the dental arch from the negative dental impression, by pouring a quick setting thermosettable material into the negative dental impression to fill impressions therein made in the biting substep and removing the thermosetting material which bears a positive dental impression of the teeth to thereby provide a positive model of the dental arch; [0010] creating an ideal dental arch, by cutting around an irregular tooth of the positive model of the dental arch, incrementally changing the position of the cut around irregular tooth so as to provide an ideal dental arch, allowing the ideal dental arch to fully solidify, and coating the ideal dental arch with lubricant; and [0011] creating a retainer, by softening plastic in warm water, rolling the softened plastic while still warm into a generally cylindrical shape, placing the same onto the inside surface of the ideal dental arch by molding the plastic over the entire surface of the ideal arch so that all surfaces are covered with a layer of plastic which forms a molded shell, and releasing the molded shell after it has cooled from the ideal dental arch to form a retainer. [0012] Preferably, the pouring substep of said positive model creating step is accomplished by pouring a curable casting resin; said cutting substep of said ideal dental arch creating step is accomplished by cutting around the irregular tooth to the gum line; said incrementally changing substep of said ideal arch creating step is accomplished by holding the positive impression with one hand so as to stabilize it and by using the thumb and fingers of the other hand to force the cut irregular tooth into a better, more ideal position; said layer of plastic of said retainer creating step is between one (1) mm and three (3) mm in thickness; and said molded shell of said retainer creating step is released after it has been allowed to cool to a temperature of no more than 30 degrees C. [0013] The do-it-yourself orthodontic kit of the present invention comprises: [0014] (a) first components that are usable to provide an actual dental impression of the arch to be straightened, said first components including: [0015] (i) a dental tray; [0016] (ii) a semisolid matrix material that may be poured into the dental tray for use in providing a negative dental impression; [0017] (iii) a curable matrix to provide, from the negative dental impression, a positive dental impression; [0018] (b) second components that are usable to provide an ideal arch from the positive dental impression, said second components including: [0019] (i) a saw adapted to cut the positive dental impression to allow manual re-formation of a tooth in the area of the cut to provide an ideal dental arch; and [0020] (c) third components for creating a retainer from the ideal arch, said third components including: [0021] (i) non-toxic plastic material sofenable in warm water of quantity sufficient to be rolled into a generally cylindrical shape for application to and subsequent removal from the ideal dental arch in order to provide a retainer for use in straightening the teeth of the wearer of the retainer. [0022] Preferably, the semisolid matrix of said first components includes alginate; the curable matrix of said first components includes a quick setting thermoset liquid plastic casting compound; said second components further include a lubricant for application to the ideal arch; said non-toxic plastic material of said third components has a low melting temperature such that it can be molded by hand when maintaining an internal temperature between seventy to one hundred (70-100) degrees C. and becomes semirigid at an internal temperature of less than sixty (60) degrees C.; and said quantity of said non-toxic plastic material of said third components is between about ten to fifteen (10-15) cc. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING [0023] Other objects, inventive aspects and advantageous features of the present invention will become apparent as the invention becomes better understood by referring to the following solely exemplary detailed description of the invention, and to the drawings, wherein: [0024] FIG. 1 shows the user cutting the model to isolate the tooth to be moved; Continue reading about Do-it-yourself orthodontic kit and method... Full patent description for Do-it-yourself orthodontic kit and method Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Do-it-yourself orthodontic kit and method patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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